I purchased an 05 VFR in early June, and have been riding the heck out of it. I’ve been riding for years, and this is my first non-HD bike. Needless to say, it’s quite a difference. Overall, I’m extremely happy with it. I used this board quite a bit when deciding what to purchase. So here are a couple of observations and questions: I’ve noticed that the motor stumbles ever so slightly in roughly the 4-5k range under light to moderate acceleration and while holding a steady throttle. Is this a common trait? I’ve also noticed that it likes to lunge when going from closed to open throttle, which isn’t a big deal when traveling in a straight line, but feels a bit unsettling when cornering. Researching on here I’ve seen myriad mods for this, just not sure where to start. Any input would be greatly appreciated! This bike came with Remus pipes, which I understand are a good quality product. I’m used to a pretty loud exhaust, so to me it seems really tame. Is there a system that has a bit more bark?
Sounds like your bike might benefit from a PC3 (Power commander) with aftermarket mapping. To be honest, less is more for the loudness of the exhaust. Too loud of an exhuast makes people angry, makes us all look bad, and that is when noise laws (see Denver, NYC) are created against us motorcyclists. Ok, I am done preaching now.
I'm experiencing the same symptoms as you are MrL. The flat spot is annoying so I usually gear up or down to avoid those RPM's when possible. At moderate acceleration, mine seems OK. I kinda figured the throttle lunging was just me. I added a cramp buster which seems to magnify the problem but I'm still learning to make my actions a little smoother. I think my throttle has a bit too much play in it so I tend to over twist waiting for a response then I get too much. I think minor adjustments can be made at the throttle and the major adjustments need the tank lifted (according to the manual).
Lunging and stumbling seem to be a common problem. Not sure on the fix. As far as the loud pipes thing--coming from HD you have a different perspective on exhaust sound. Many of us look for tone rather than volume. Several people have gutted their exhausts(various manufacturers) with varying results. You may want to do a forum search because there are many threads dedicated to brands and modifications in this area.